Welcome Incoming Wharton Doctoral Programs Students!

The  Doctoral Coordinator & Administrative Directory lists the point(s) of contact for your PhD department.

A  PennKey and password are required to access many of the University’s electronic services.

After you submit your enrollment decision forms your information will be entered into the University of Pennsylvania’s records.  You will be sent a letter (either via email or regular mail – the system is transitioning between the two) with your password and login information instructing you on how to get your Penn Key (generally 2 to 3 weeks).

Your PennKey will allow you to access a variety of Penn systems such as registering for courses, viewing your transcripts, signing up for health insurance and a variety of other services. Links to the PennKey system are below.

Note: If  you have previously enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania (e.g., you obtained your undergraduate degree here), continue to use the PennKey login and password you were originally issued.

Please let the Doctoral Programs office know if you have any problems or questions.

PennKey Home

http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/

If you are a new student, a PennKey Setup Code will be automatically mailed to you. To register your PennKey: https://challengeresponse.apps.upenn.edu/challengeResponse/jsp/fast.do?fastStart=registerMyPennkey

If you have previously been enrolled as a University of Pennsylvania student (e.g., undergraduate, other graduate work) you should use the PennKey information used at that time.

You may have to wait one to two business days for your registration information to make its way through the University system to access some university sites.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) aims to provide immigration assistance as well as a sense of community for the international population at Penn.

Penn ISSS: http://global.upenn.edu/isss

Pre-Arrival: http://global.upenn.edu/isss/prearrival

Mandatory New International Student Check-In Requirements: http://global.upenn.edu/isss/orientation

Getting started at Penn for incoming international students: http://global.upenn.edu/isss/getting-started

To contact ISSS: http://global.upenn.edu/isss/about

Once you have received your PennKey information, you should be able to receive your Wharton Email address, Wharton User Name and Password information.

Contact acs-support@wharton.upenn.edu to obtain your email address.  Make sure you have completed the necessary steps to activate your Penn Key before you request a Wharton email address. In your email to acs-support@wharton.upenn.edu, please include:

• Your Full Name
• 8 – digit PENN ID Number
• Penn Key Username
• University Status (PhD/Doctoral)
• Department

The Doctoral Programs office will use your Wharton email address as the main form of contact. Please have email forwarded to your Wharton account or use your Wharton email address to ensure that you are receiving all information from the Doctoral Programs office as well as your department.

Please note: Your PennKey will also be your Wharton email address, which cannot be changed.

For questions on IT support, please contact acs-support@wharton.upenn.edu.

All Wharton Doctoral Students including new PhD students use Path@Penn to register for classes. If you are unsure which courses to register for, please consult with your Doctoral Coordinator. 

COURSE REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR FALL 2024:

• The deadline to add/swap a course for Fall 2024 is September 10, 2024.
• The deadline to drop a course for Fall 2024 is October 7, 2024.

How-To Links & Videos:

• Video Introduction to Path@Penn
• Add/Drop/Swap courses
• How to Create a New Cart in Path
• How to Submit Petitions
• Updating General Personal Information

Below are some links to University and Wharton sites that you may find useful. You will need to login with your University of Pennsylvania PennKey or your Wharton Login and Password to access some of the sites.

Path@Penn (PennKey Required) 

Path@Penn is your main hub for information about your academic records and student profile. Use your PennKey and password to log on for online course registration, course schedules and academic records, updating selected address information, and updating privacy settings.

Campus Express (PennKey Required)

Campus Express provides a convenient portal for accessing a number of Penn services, including your PennCard (school ID), dining, transportation and parking, ordering books and technology, registering property, and more. You can also learn about discounts for Penn students!

Doctoral Inside

This site is specifically for Wharton Doctoral Programs Students and provides a wealth of information on program requirements, important dates & upcoming events, etc.

• Policies & Procedures: http://doctoral-inside.wharton.upenn.edu/policies-procedures/

Graduate Student Center

• Graduate Student Orientation Hub
  This webpage is a one-stop portal for University-wide information, resources, and activities for new graduate & professional students. The page will continue to be updated throughout the summer!
• New Student Events Calendar
  See upcoming events for new graduate & professional students at Penn.

• Resources & information for new students

 Academic Calendar

You may need your Penn ID Number, or your Penn Key and Login for some of the sites.

If you have any questions about housing, please contact the Housing offices.

Penn Residential Services

• Penn Residential Services: https://residential-services.business-services.upenn.edu/ 
• Resources:  https://residential-services.business-services.upenn.edu/quick-tips

Off-Campus Services

• Off Campus Services: www.upenn.edu/offcampusservices
• Housing and Roommate Search: http://offcampushousing.upenn.edu/

Summer Housing

• Summer at Penn:  http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/hospitality-services/

Penn’s Off-Campus Housing Fair Hosted by Penn Off-Campus Services: https://upenn.vfairs.com/

All Wharton PhD students are required to submit Immunization and Health History forms. You can obtain student health forms now and you will be able to sign up for health insurance July 1st.

All of this information can be found on the Penn Wellness website (https://wellness.upenn.edu/), but more specific links are provided below. You will need your Penn Key to access these systems.

Important: You will not be able to register for classes if you do not have the required Health forms submitted

Please let the Doctoral Programs office know if you have any questions.

Immunization Compliance

The University of Pennsylvania requires all incoming students to be immunized against certain diseases and to submit this information online. You also are required to fill out 2 personal health questionnaires and electronically sign a consent form.  This is done through a secure website. The requirements and instructions can be found here: https://wellness.upenn.edu/immunization-insurance-compliance/immunization-compliance

Please note: Failure to meet the requirements will result in denial of student registration privileges.

Insurance Compliance

Available: The enrollment/waiver site for academic year 24-25 will open to all students on July 1st and will close on August 31st.

All University of Pennsylvania students are required to have Health Insurance.  Full-time and dissertation status students must enroll in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) or provide proof of acceptable alternative coverage.  If proof is not provided, students will be automatically enrolled in the PSIP.

As noted in your offer letters and on the Wharton Doctoral Programs Website all admitted doctoral student’s fellowships cover Health Insurance. Please confirm with your department’s Business Administrator if you have any questions about the terms of your fellowship. Penn Insurance coverage begins on August 1. 

If you are interested in obtaining summer coverage, check with your department for their policy on payment for early coverage.

• Insurance Requirements: https://shs.wellness.upenn.edu/inreq/
• Online Waiver/Enrollment Site: https://portal.apps.upenn.edu/penn_portal/story.php?channelname=CampusLife&storyid=152&tabid=1

1)  Student Immunization Record and Student Medical History Questionnaire

Available: Now

The University of Pennsylvania requires all incoming students to be immunized against certain diseases and to submit this information.

You also are required to fill out two personal health questionnaires and electronically sign a consent form. This is done through a secure website. The deadline for submission is July 1st.

Failure to meet the requirements will result in denial of student registration privileges.

Please visit the Student Health Services web site for further information:

• Required Immunizations: https://wellness.upenn.edu/immunization-insurance-compliance/immunization-compliance
• Immunization Form (Due July 1): https://upenn.app.box.com/s/sltgpnh5neq0smc4oxvixn1mywjlr6e3
• Contact: Please feel free to contact Immunization Navigators, 3535 Market street, Suite 60, Mezzanine Philadelphia PA 19104, 215-746-WELL (9355),wel-immun@pobox.upenn.edu

 2)  Health Insurance (PENN Key Needed)

Available: July 1st

All University of Pennsylvania students are required to have Health Insurance.  If you are interested in obtaining summer coverage, check with your department for their policy on payment for early coverage.

Full-time and dissertation status students must enroll in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) or provide proof of acceptable alternative coverage.  If proof is not provided, students will be automatically enrolled in the PSIP.  Students may file their selection on-line through the Penn Portal beginning on July 1.

• SHS Insurance: https://wellness.upenn.edu/immunization-insurance-compliance/insurance-compliance
• Online Waiver/Enrollment Site: https://medley.isc-seo.upenn.edu/penn_portal/story.php?channelname=CampusLife&storyid=152&tabid=1
• Penn Insurance Information: https://wellness.upenn.edu/insurance-requirements/penn-student-insurance-plan-psip
• Insurance Contact Information: Insurance Navigators, 3535 Market street, Suite 60, Mezzanine Philadelphia PA 19104, 215-746-WELL (9355), wel-shsinsur@pobox.upenn.edu

YOU CANNOT SIGN UP BEFORE JULY 1, IF YOU TRY YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE.

Wharton Doctoral Programs offers summer camps for our incoming students to help prepare you for your future course work.  Not all departments require their students to participate, so please consult your department’s program coordinator to find out if you should sign up.

Please be aware the Economics Math Camp, Wharton Math Camp and Wharton Tech Camp will be hosted in-person for Summer 2024. A hybrid/remote option is not available.

Below you will find some preliminary information about Wharton’s summer Math Camp, the alternative is the more extensive Math Camp (ECON 8970) offered by the Economics department and Wharton’s OIDD 9120 – a six week follow up course offered this fall.

In addition to the Math Camps, Tech Camp is suited for any student wanting to improve his/her skills acquiring, cleaning, manipulating, and transferring data.

If you have any questions, please let the Doctoral Programs office know.

 Wharton Doctoral Programs – Summer Math Camp

What is it?

• Preparation for core courses in applied economics and statistics.
• Will cover the basics of optimization theory and perhaps offer a short two lecture sequence on probability theory as well.
• This is a zero credit class and will not show up on your transcript.

Who will/should take it?

• All students planning to take the Economics 6810-6820 sequence will be expected to have mastered this material, either from prior course work or by passing the Math Camp “final” exam.
• Students who are directed to do so by their program’s PhD coordinator.

When is it?

• Dates: 8/2/24 – 8/21/24
• Time: MWF 1:30pm-3:00pm EST
• Final Exam Date: August 23, 2024

Cost/Fee:

• There is no fee for Wharton’s math camp.

WEBSITE  & SYLLABUS – https://canvas.upenn.edu/courses/1783192

REGISTRATION – https://wharton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_821LzEPWRbMSwIe

OIDD 912

What is it?

• A continuation of the Summer Math Camp, optimization as a six-week Q1 mini-course that will do constrained optimization, convexity and quasi-convexity, the maximum theorem, and dynamic programming.
• This is a ½ credit course and will appear on your transcript

Who should take it?

• All students planning to take Economics 6810-6820 sequence will be expected to have mastered this material, either from prior course work or by passing the Math Camp “final” exam.
• Students who are directed to do so by their program coordinator.

When is it?

• Fall 2024, date, time, location and instructor to be announced.

Cost/Fee:

• Fees and associated costs should handled by the departments like any other class.

ECON 8970 – Alternative to Wharton’s Summer Math Camp

What is it?

• Students who wish take the Economics Department summer math camp are free to enroll in that course as alternative preparation.

Who should take it?

• Students wishing to take Economics 7010-7030 should consider taking the Economics Department’s summer math camp.
• This is a zero credit class and will not show up on your transcript.
  • Dates: 7/8/2024 – 8/16/24: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
  • Hours: 10:00AM – 3:30PM each day
  • Final (Waiver) Exam: August 19, 2024, 1:00PM

Cost/Fee:

• $2,250.00 – The payment of fees for Econ 8970 varies by department, with some departments paying the entire fee, some departments paying half of the fee, and others placing the responsibility upon the incoming student.  Please contact your department for its policy.

Website/Registration

• See ECON’s website for additional information:  http://economics.sas.upenn.edu/graduate-program/course-information/summer-math-camp

Wharton Doctoral Programs – Tech Camp

What is it?

• It’s suited for any student wanting to improve his/her skills acquiring, cleaning, manipulating, and transferring data.
• Will be useful to a wide range of students interested in empirical research.
• This is a zero credit class and will not show up on your transcript.

Who will/should take it?

• This camp is offered to both new and returning students.

When is it?

• Dates: 8/5/2024 – 8/23/2024
• Time: MWF 10:30am-12:00pm

Cost/Fee: There is no fee for Wharton’s tech camp.

WEBSITE  & SYLLABUS – https://canvas.upenn.edu/courses/1788260

REGISTRATION – https://wharton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6XSz65FFWZV54iO

Business research is driven by innovations contributed by a diverse population of cultures and identities.  At Wharton Doctoral Programs, our community is filled with global voices expressing divergent views and opinions. Our creative students are encouraged to find common ground in solving challenging problems by sharing their unique perspectives, equally respected and valued.

Join us in celebrating multiculturalism.

We are committed to providing students the support and mentorship to succeed as individuals, as doctoral students, and, ultimately, as academic leaders in their fields.

Below are resources for students, allies, and advocates.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chairs of the Wharton Doctoral Council

The Wharton Doctoral Council (WDC) represents students of Wharton Doctoral Programs, advocating specifically on behalf of WDP students regarding travel grants, research funding, needs for special interest groups, etc. WDC also regularly meets with Wharton administration and faculty, serving as a liaison to voice students’ concerns and feedback. As members of the WDC Board, the DEI Chairs, oversee a designated budget funded by the WDP office to be used for DEI initiatives such as speakers, trainings, etc. The DEI Chairs also liaise with the WDP Office on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Wharton Society for the Advancement of Women in Business Academia (WSAWBA)

WSAWBA is a Wharton PhD student-run group that provides professional development and social support for women in business academia. Women working to build a research career in a business-related field can face unique challenges, and we work towards identifying and addressing them through events throughout the year.  Since our inception in 2013, our hope has been to connect scholars across years and disciplines to create a formal support network to encourage their continued professional success.

Fontaine Society

In 1970 an endowment was established posthumously in honor of Dr. William Fontaine, Professor of Philosophy, the first African-American appointed to the Standing Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. From its inception, the endowment, known as the “Fontaine Fellowship” has been used to advance the University’s goals related to enrolling a diverse student body and fostering a vibrant intellectual environment. Today, the Fontaine Society is comprised of nearly 400 current PhD students spanning a wide range of disciplines.

PhD Project

The PhD Project was founded upon the premise that increasing the diversity of business school faculty could propel advancements in workplace diversity . Today, our expansive network of supporters, sponsors and universities support Black/African-Americans, Latinx/Hispanic-American and Native Americans attain their business PhD and become the business professors who will mentor the next generation of leaders.

Each November, Wharton Doctoral Programs attends the PhD Project Conference in Chicago. The goals of the Conference are to inform and educate attendees about all aspects of a business doctoral program, and to encourage them to pursue a career in business research and academia. The conference welcomes participation from current PhD Project members and alumni. In addition, the PhD Project hosts area conferences each summer. To learn about area conferences and for a calendar of Summer 2023 area conferences: https://phdproject.org/events/.

Connect to Diversity Resources at Penn

• Affiliated with Resource Center
• Religious Organizations  
• Student Government, Consultation Councils and Advisory Boards
• Student Affairs
• School-Affiliated Organizations
• Arts Organizations
• Graduate Student Groups

For more information on pre-doctoral training and Wharton Doctoral recruitment activities including IDDEAS@Wharton, Leadership Alliance and SUMR@Penn LDI, click here.

We welcome your ideas and encourage you to express concerns as we continue to foster diversity, promote a sense of belonging for all individuals, and eliminate the harmful divisions and fractures that lead to discrimination and injustice among individuals and groups in our communities.

If you would like to submit feedback or questions to the Doctoral Programs office (name optional) or schedule a time to meet with the Vice Dean, please use this form: Wharton Doctoral Programs Feedback Form.

Students in Wharton Doctoral Programs have the option of registering their partners in various Penn programs, which provides partners with a number of benefits as members of the Penn community.

• You and your spouse/partner are invited to the Grad Center Orientation activities! This is a great chance for you and your partner to learn about the many resources at Penn but also give you fun ways to learn about Philadelphia! https://gsc.upenn.edu/welcome
• PennCard: Your spouse/partner can access many campus services, but he/she will need a PennCard first: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/penncard/
• A spouse/partner PennCard provides access to certain libraries and other services on campus: https://penncard.business-services.upenn.edu/guest-others
• Access to free Penn transit: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/transportation/
• Campus Recreation: Spouses/partners are able to sign up for a gym membership at the student-rate plans. There are varying levels of membership.  For more information: http://www.upenn.edu/recreation/
• For international students with spouses, we have the International Spouses and Partners at Penn community: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/ispp
• Students and their spouses/partners can also join our many Wharton clubs and organizations through Wharton Groups: https://groups.wharton.upenn.edu/login. Clubs and groups range from social, interest, and professional groups.  For Spouses/Partners, simply select a group you’d like to join, then create a Campus Groups account and select “Wharton Doctoral Partners.”  Membership fees vary by group.
• Doctoral students with families can also take advantage of the many activities and resources for students with families that Penn offers through the Family Center at Penn http://www.familycenter.upenn.edu/
• Resources for new & expecting parents: https://familycenter.upenn.edu/resources-support.
• Lactation rooms on campus: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife/family-care/lactation-support-program/how-to-find-on-campus-nursing-and-lactation-space.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to Wharton!

Students’ well-being and safety is our top priority at Wharton Doctoral Programs and across the University. There are a range of resources on campus that provide you guidance and support, if needed at any time.

All incoming Wharton Doctoral students will be enrolled in an online Canvas course to learn about the policies, resources and contacts which support students’ safety across campus. You will be enrolled in the course, THRIVE AT PENN, in mid-July.

The Graduate Student Center (GSC) provides helpful information for new students to Penn: https://gsc.upenn.edu/resources/new-students

GSC also offers online sessions for incoming and new students: https://gsc.upenn.edu/resources/new-students/new-student-orientation

GSC  has put together a helpful checklist to help prepare incoming graduate students: https://gsc.upenn.edu/resources/new-students/new-student-checklist-faq

Please be aware that the following items from the GSC checklist DO NOT apply to Wharton Doctoral students:

Financial Aid

Wharton Doctoral Student receive a full stipend, tuition and health insurance. Financial aid does not apply to WDP students. If you have financial question, please feel free to contact your department’s Business Administrator.

Email

You will need to contact acs-support@wharton.upenn.edu to have a Wharton email account created. You will need your PennID and PennKey to set up email. See more instruction in the email section above.

Penn Pay

This does not apply to WDP students. Please contact your department’s Business Administrator if you will be receiving billing.

The PennCard is the official University identification card for students.

To obtain a PennCard:

• Apply for your PennCard at Campus Express Online
• Schedule an appointment to pick up your PennCard from the PennCard Center located on the Second Floor of the Penn Bookstore: https://penncard.business-services.upenn.edu/appointments
• A valid, government issued photo I.D. will be required in order to pick up a PennCard